MOTORISTS faced mayhem and misery today as new road changes led to snarl-ups and tailbacks.

Serious disruption was caused as diversions were set up and bus lanes cut off, causing long queues during the morning rush-hour.

The traffic controls in place for the next three years will enable work to go-ahead on the #170m revamp of Eldon Square, Haymarket Metro station and new buildings at Gallowgate in the centre of Newcastle.

The huge job involves the demolition of the southern end of Eldon Square, including the former Greenmarket, NCP car park and the old Argos store.

As traffic built up today, drivers were frustrated but welcomed the modernisation plans.

Amanda Davidson, 27, from Seaton Burn, drives to work and said the changes will cause major disruption.

The assistant manager said: “I think the traffic changes will make it horrendous for people getting in and out of the city during rush hour.

“It will be even worse during match days when thousands of people are trying to get to St James’ Park.

“The roads they have cut off are always really busy and there are bound to be major problems. I think it will take quite a while for people to get used to the changes.”

Andrew Salmond, 31, a shop worker from Gateshead added: “My main concern is not being able to use the NCP car park – and that’s the change that will cause me most problems.

“It’s good that the city centre is being developed and it’s bound to encourage people to visit Newcastle, it’s just a shame drivers are being inconvenienced.”

Peter Atherton, 65, of Wallsend, works at an office in Percy Street.

He said: “It will frustrate a lot of drivers who are travelling from the east of the city.

“I welcome the development of Newcastle but the closure of roads will inevitably cause some confusion and may in fact cause an increase in accidents.”

From yesterday until Easter 2010 car drivers are banned from turning right into Gallowgate from Percy Street, while Newgate Street will be closed to all southbound traffic from Gallowgate and the northbound route closed to cars between Clayton Street and Gallowgate.

To stop car drivers taking a short-cut through the already congested Leazes Village residential area, the council has banned through-traffic from Leazes Lane.

This closure will be monitored by a working group set up with residents and reviewed in six months.

Newgate Street has been narrowed to enable work to progress on the demolition of the NCP Greenmarket car park.

Part of St Andrew’s Street has also been closed to prevent vehicles using the area as a short-cut.

One aim of the shake-up is to keep buses moving and the plan is to ban cars turning right into Gallowgate from Percy Street.

Around 90 extra buses will be turning into Gallowgate from Percy Street each hour, on top of 100 an hour from Blackett Street.

Buses which use Newgate Street have been rerouted along Gallowgate and a no-right-turn restriction introduced to stop cars turning into Gallowgate from Percy Street.

Council chief executive Ian Stratford said: “We aim to manage these changes sensitively and well, but there will be disruption.